Neutralizing Your Carbon Footprint
Being carbon neutral refers to calculating your total carbon emissions, reducing your emissions where possible, and then balancing your remaining emissions that cannot be avoided by purchasing carbon offsets.
These carbon offsets are purchased to pay for someone else’s project that will result in less carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas in the atmosphere than would otherwise occur. This could include offsets that would go towards investing in green technologies, or to pay for the planting of trees. Healthy ecosystems are the only way we currently absorb and sequester CO2 from the atmosphere, and the world’s forests play a substantial role (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report, Working Group 111, 2007).
If an individual, couple or family does not have the opportunity or capacity to calculate their carbon footprint, go through a process to reduce their emissions and then offset their remaining emissions they can make a decision to neutralize their carbon footprint by offsetting the Average North American footprint for these groups. This can be done using the ERA Carbon Offset Package process for individuals, couples or families provided on this site.
Calculating Your Carbon Footprint
An individual, family, company or government’s footprint can be calculated using a CO2 calculator such as the one provided on this website or, for more complex footprints, using a consultant such as ERA. If you are interested in having ERA assist in calculating your carbon footprint, please contact us.
Reducing Your Emissions
There is a considerable amount of material available on the steps you can take to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions that can be accessed through websites, publications and other sources. They will usually cover two categories of emissions that are generated: direct emissions such as those generated by an individual or businesses vehicles; and, indirect emissions such as emissions generated as a result of bringing food, materials or supplies to the individual or business. Reasonable steps should normally be taken to reduce your GHG footprint before the purchase of carbon offsets is considered.
Offsetting Your Remaining Emissions
If you have calculated your carbon footprint using the ERA carbon calculator you can then purchase offsets from ERA directly through this website.
If you have a more complex footprint, particularly if your are calculating the footprint of a business, you can take advantage of expertise offered by ERA to estimate your footprint and then incorporate your offset costs into your fees, services, sales etc.
This assistance can be provided to any business by ERA. Several business sector specific programs are offered by ERA under its EcoNeutral Program to address carbon offset requirements including for entertainment, aviation, hospitality and winemaking sectors.
Read the Offset Purchasers FAQ.
Who to Call
- If you wish to offset the GHG footprint of your lifestyle or a small business and require assistance in doing that, please contact ERA Ecosystem Restoration Associates Inc. directly at info@econeutral.com or by dialing 604-646-0400
- Several business sector specific programs are offered by ERA under its EcoNeutral Program to address carbon offset requirements for motion picture, sports, music tours, entertainment; aviation; hospitality and tourism; winemakers, data centres and other specialty sectors. Your contact is Warren Carr. 604-646-0400, 604-341-1400 (cell) or warren.carr@econeutral.com